Category: Hockey News

SHSHL Update 11-19-24

National Division      W    L    T    PTS  OTW    OTL

North Penn (4-0)                3    0    0     12          0        0

C.R. South (3-0)                  3    0    0     11          1        0

Souderton (2-1)                2    1    0      8         0        0

Cent. Bucks South (2-1)    2    1    0     7          1        0

Pennridge (2-1)                 1    1    0      5         0        1 

Pennsbury (1-3)                 1    2    0      5         0        1

C.R. North (1-2)                  1    2   0      4         0      0

C.B. East (1-3)                      1    2   0      4         0    0

Neshaminy (!-2)               0    2   0      0         0       0

C.B. West (0-3)                  0    3    0      0         0    0

American Division               W    L    T   PTS    OTW    OTL

Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-0)       2     0   0    8          0      0

Springfield (1-1)                      1    1    0   5          0      1

Wissahickon (1-2)                 1    1    0    4         0      0

Hatboro-Horsham  (1-2)     1   1    0    3          1        0

Abington (0-2 )                        0   2     0  0          0       0

Teams receive 4 points for a regulation win

3 points for an overtime win

2 points for a tie

1 point for an overtime loss

0 points for a regulation loss

National Division Scoring        G     A    Pts

Shane Dachwski    Pr                9     5     14

Jackson Accardi     CRN            7     5     12

Samuel Norton NP               5     7     12

Cole Pluck NP                        3     9     12

James Boyle NP                      6     4     10

Nolan Shingle(NP)                 7      3     10

Jacob Sarver Pb                   4     5        9

James Rush         Pr                 4    5     9

Shane Hicks           Pb               3     6     9

Jake Weiner  CRS

American Division Scoring           G    A    Pts

Cooper Kanze PW                         7     1     8

Blake Ambler  PW                         4    3     7

Dan Guller      PW                         1    6      7

Vincent Graziani HH                    3    2      5

Nathan Nemchinov HH              3    2      5

Henderson 8 Downingtown East 3

West Chester Henderson scored five unanswered goals in the third period on the way to an 8-3 win over Downingtown East Monday night in a battle of ICSHL Ches-Mont League unbeatens at Ice Line.

Blake Platz scored four goals for the Warriors, who improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the Ches-Mont. Nick Denadai, Cole Navazio, Anthony Barthol, and Andrew Denny all scored single goals for Henderson, which broke the game open after taking a 3-2 lead into the third period. Hunter Haas added four assists.

Brody Matthews scored a goal for Downingtown East (4-1, 1-1) and added two assists.

“Tonight game was a great win for the Henderson program,” said Warrior coach Tom Aughey. The group played hard and stuck to the game plan.”

Denny gave the Warriors a quick lead just 21 seconds into the opening period. Anderson Frain tied the game for the Cougars at the 7:04 mark.

Platz scored a pair of goals 22 seconds apart early in the second frame to give the Warriors a 3-1 lead. Christian McCuch scored for the Cougars to make it a one-goal game with 3:14 left in the period but Platz completed a hat trick 3:01 into the final period to spark a barrage of five goals in a span pf 11 minutes, 5 seconds. That spurt included Platz’s fourth goal of the night which came with 2:54 remaining.

Aughey said the key to the win was the play of goaltender Matthew Cieslukowski in the second period when the senior made seven of his 17 saves.

“The score was not indicative of the play within the game” Aughey said. “It was a big game from Matt. “He came up with plenty of big saves in the second to hold the lead for us.

“Platz and Haas took control in the third and we buried the opportunities we had.”

West Chester Henderson 1 2 5—8

Downingtown East 1 1 1—3

First-period goals: Andrew Denny (H) from Hunter Haas, :21; Anderson Frain (DE) from Christian McCuch and Brody Matthews, 7:04

Second-period goals: Blake Platz (H) from Declan Herr and Nicholas Denadai, 1:02; Platz (H) from Haas and Andrew Denny, 1:24; McCutch (DE) from Matthew Latch and Matthews, 13:46 (pp)

Third-period goal:  Platz (H) from Haas and Denny, 3:01; Anthony Barthol (H) from Harrison Aller and Herr, 5:53; Colin Navazio (H) from Declan Dowd, 7:55; Denaldi (H) from Platz and Denny, 11:35 (pp); Platz (H) from Haas, 14:06; Matthews (DE) from Latch, 15:40

Shots: West Chester Henderson 28, Downingtown East 20; Saves: Matthew Cieslukowski (H) 17, Lucas Fleuty (DE) 20

North Penn 6 Downingtown West 2

EAST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP—It was the sort of game one would expect to see during the second week of March as opposed to the third week of November. North Penn and Downingtown West demonstrated why they expect to be taken seriously in the weeks and months to come.

For the record, the Knights prevailed 6-2 in the SHSHL-ICSHL crossover matchup Friday night at Ice Line but the affair was much more closely contested than the score would indicate; it was a one-goal game until the closing minutes of the third period.

It was an evening the Knights celebrated their fourth consecutive victory of the young season, but North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis was quick to point out it was most of all an occasion to celebrate high-school hockey.

“I’m so glad we started doing the crossover games this year,” he said. “Downingtown East and C.B. South played last week, Boyertown-Pennridge and us and Downingtown West tonight.

“Heretofore, you don’t see these teams until March. It gives you an opportunity to play them and build high-school hockey in this area.”

Downingtown West coach Brett Mackel, who saw his team drop to 2-2 on the season, echoed those sentiments.

“I like that they added the crossover games this year,” he said. “Especially teams that we usually wouldn’t see until the Flyers Cup. It’s great having different teams come in, especially teams we’re not used to seeing.”

Sam Norton scored two goals for North Penn. Nolan Shingle was also credited with two goals while James Boyle produced a goal and an assist.

Goals from Bryce Schuler and Ryder Jones gave the Whippets a 2-1 lead 7:54 into the second period. Norton tied the game for North Penn with 2:18 left in the period and Boyle’s power-play goal 77 seconds later gave his team the lead for good at 3-2.

“I thought we came out a little flat,” Boyle said, “but then we picked it right back up. Then we got back on them.”

Shingle extended North Penn’s lead on a shot from the deep right wing with 6:29 left in regulation. His second goal was a power-play effort with 4:46 left after the Whippets were accessed a bench minor.

Norton added his second goal of the evening with two minutes to play when he lofted the puck from his own blue line into an empty net.

Aidan Quigley earned the win in goal with 26 saves, many of them achieved with heavy traffic in his field of view.

Mackel felt his team performed well in some areas but was lacking in others.

“We had a lot of penalty kills that we ended up killing off,” he said. We gave up two power-play goals, but other than that our kill was good.

Our goaltender [Justin Adams] gave up two power-play goals but he played pretty well.

“Negatives. We didn’t shoot the puck as much as we needed to tonight. Our defensive zone was pretty sloppy.”

North Penn 1 2 3—6

D-Town West 0 2 0—2

First-period goal: Gabriel Dunn (NP) from Aidan Quigley, 2:48

Second-period goals: Bryce Schuler (DW) from Ryder Jones, :44; Jones (DW) from Reed Surak, 7:54; Sam Norton (NP) from Chase Kelly Del Ricci, 14:42; James Boyle (NP) from Norton and Luke Haftel. 15:59

Third-period goals: Nolan Shingle (MP) from Cole Pluck, 10:31; Shingle (NP) from Boyle and Pluck, 12:16 (pp); Norton (NP) unassisted, 15:00 (en)

Shots: North Penn 35, Downingtown West 28; Saves: Aidan Quigley (NP) 26, Justin Adams (DW) 29

Neshaminy 2 Conestoga 0

BRISTOL—Shutouts are rare events in high-school hockey. But Neshaminy’s Colin Thurnau took center stage Thursday night, stopping all 36 shots he saw as the ‘Skins bested Conestoga 2-0 at Grundy Arena in the latest installment of the SHSHL-ICSHL interleague series.

It was the first win for Neshaminy in three starts this season. Conestoga, which was without several regulars, dropped to 1-3.

Anthony DiCrosta and Ryan DeMatteo scored the two goals but it was Colin Thurnau who shouldered the biggest share of the load.

“You’ve just got to stay focused the whole time,” the senior said. “I was tracking the puck very well.

“But, I also want to give a quick shout out to the D-line for shutting it down tonight, and to [assistant coach Aric Miller] for stepping in all alone, he coached a great game tonight.”

Miller was behind the Neshaminy bench Wednesday night, filling in for the absent Bill Mooney. He noted that the win was a total team effort.

“Everybody in the lineup did what they needed to do to get this win tonight,” he said.

Miller celebrated Thurnau’s performance.

“Colin had a solid fame tonight,” he said. He’s our backbone back there. We knew we could count on him, putting him in there, and he really stood up to the task tonight. It wasn’t easy, he faced 36 shots. But, he got the job done, and our boys stepped up for him in the end.”

DiCrosta gave the ‘Skins the lead 3:44 into the second period off a setup from Eli Kirsh. For most of the night that was all the hosts could do against Max Haimson, who turned in a solid performance himself in the Conestoga net.

DeMatteo extended the Neshaminy lead 5:59 into the third period when he concluded a sprint up the right wing by scoring the evening’s second and last goal.

Conestoga coach Mike Graves left the building looking for goals.

“It was  good back and forth game,’ he said. “I think we’ve got to find a way to bury some rebounds and get to the hard areas.

“We had a lot of perimeter stuff tonight, but nothing real dangerous.”

Graves credited both goaltenders. “We have a luxury with {Haimson] in the back for us,” he said, “and they had a solid goaltender tonight too. He did a great on smothering all the rebounds and making the first save look real easy.”

Conestoga 0 0 0—0

Neshaminy 0 1 1—2

Second-period goal: Anthony DiCrosta (N) from Eli Kirsh, 3:44

Third-period goal: Ryan DeMatteo (N) from Liam Mooney, 5:59

Shots:  Conestoga 36, Neshaminy 24; Saves: Max Haimson (C) 22, Colin Thurnau (N) 36

Pennridge 6 Boyertown 3

HATFIELD—A fast start paid big dividends for Pennridge Wednesday night. The Rams jumped in front with two early goals and went on to a 6-3 win over Boyertown at Hatfield Ice Arena as a part of the SHSHL-ICSHL series.

James Rush scored twice for the defending Class AA Flyers Cup and state champions. Shane Dachowski added two goals and two assists as Pennridge improved to 2-1 on the season.

The Rams got off to a fast start. Rush scored off a turnover at center ice, beating Boyertown netminder Tyler Griffith to give his team a 1-0 lead 3:01 into the first frame. He made it a 2-0 game just 18 seconds later.

Logan Brown answered for the Bears (3-2)  8:59 into the period but Dachowski made it a 3-1 game with 1:53 remaining.

“It’s always great to get those early goals,” Rush said. “It gives your team the momentum for the rest of the game and you just try to maintain the lead from that point on.”

The Rams had just 12 skaters a available because of injuries and their coach Jeff Montagna was pleased with how his team stepped up in one of the most anticipated matchups of the interconference challenge series, against an opponent that reached the Flyers Cup semifinals last spring. The Bears were limited to just six shots in the opening period

“I thought we played a tremendous game,” Montagna said. I thought we did a great job in the slot area.

“I told [his team] Thais is a a blueprint for us. The starters scored, everyone else keep the puck out of our net and do the dirty work, the dirty things that not every team wants to do.”

Dachowski and Rush scored goals not quite six minutes apart to increase the Pennridge lead to 5-1 with 7:45 left in the middle period. Joseph Bilotta scored for Boyertown with 5:24 left in the second session and added his second goal of the night with exactly two minutes remaining in the game, Ladan Bishop brought down the curtain when he added a goal with 56 seconds remaining,

Boyertown coach Joe Slowik praised the way his team competed.

“I thought our team competed very well,” he said. “They’re the defending state champs so you’ve got to give them some credit.

“But I thought we competed really well and I thought we had a lot of self-inflicted wounds. We turned a lot of pucks over, we didn’t get exits when we should have and definitely weren’t very good in front of either net.”

Rush said the win against a top-tier opponent told the Rams a lot about themselves.

“You get to see what our team is going to look like this year,” he said, “what kind of opponents you can really handle. I think we got a good understanding of how good we will be this year.”

 • The win was the first for the SHSHL in the three games that were played through Wednesday night; ICSHL teams won the first two.

Slowik commented on what the crossover games do to promote high-school hockey.

“I love it,” he said. “I think it’s great. When they put this on our schedule, the crossover game, I thought it was great because the only time we play each other is in the Flyers Cup and that’s in March.

“I would like to see maybe even a little more of these crossover games. I think it’s great for high-school hockey here in Pennsylvania.”

Boyertown 1 1 1—3

Pennridge 3 3 1—6

First-period goals: James Rush (P) unassisted, 3:01; Rush (P) Shane Dachowski and Ladan Bishop, 3:19; Logan Brown (B) from Lucas Remick, 8:01; Dachowski (P) from Jared Garber, 15:07

Second-period goals: Dachowski (P) unassisted, 3:28; Ruah (P) from Garber and Dachowski, 9:15; Joseph Bilotta (B) from Evan Kurtas and Riley Berger, 11:36

Third-period goals: Bilotta (B) from Weston Bieber and Jax Drost,15:00 Logan Biahop (P) from Dachowski, 16:06 (pp)

Shots: Boyertown 29, Pennridge 32; Saves: Tyler Griffith (B) 26, Jacob Winston (P) 26

SHSHL Update 11-12-24

National Division      W    L    T    PTS  OTW    OTL

North Penn (2-0)                2    0    0     8          0        0

Cent. Bucks South (2-1)    2    0    0     7          1        0

C.R. South (2-0)                  2    0    0     7          1        0

Pennridge (1-1)                 1    1    0      5         0        1 

Pennsbury (1-2)                 1    2    0      5         0        1

Souderton (1-1)                1    1    0      4         0        1

C.R. South (1-1)                  1    1   0      4         0         0

C.B. East (1-2)               1    2   0      4         0         0

Neshaminy (0-2)               0    2   0      0         0        0

C.B. West (0-2)                  0    2    0      0         0        0

American Division              W    L    T   PTS    OTW    ORL

Plymouth Whitemarsh       1     0   0    4         0         0

Wissahickon (1-1)                 1    0    0    4         0         0

Hatboro-Horsham  (1-1)     1   1    0    3          1        0

Springfield                              0    0    1   0           0      1

Abington (0-1)                        0   1     0  0          0       0

Scoring        G     A    Pts

Jackson Accardi     CRN            5     4     9

Shane Dachwski    Pr                7     2     9

Shane Hicks           Pb               3     6     9

Dan McGlathin     CRN            5     2     7

Jeff Kvecher          CBS             2     4     6

Peter Perberow   CRS             1    5      6

James Rush         Pr                 1    5     6

SHSHL and ICSHL to Stage Interleague Series

Tonight marks the start of a new partnership between the Suburban High Hockey League and the Inter County Scholastic Hockey League; the first two in a series of 12 interleague games between the two leagues as part of the regular-season schedule that will be played between tonight and December 5.

Tonight, Wissahickon from the SHSHL will face Strath-Haven from the ICSHL at Ice Works in Aston and Downingtown West from the ICSHL will host Central Bucks South from the SHSHL at Ice Line (the full schedule is listed below).

The two leagues square off against each other annually in the Flyers Cup tournament and regular-season interleague games are not new. This year’s series of games however, have more significance because the results will be considered by the Flyers Cup Committee when evaluating potential invitees.

Beyond the Flyers Cup tournament however, the series shines a spotlight on high-school hockey. Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna is looking forward to the crossover games.

“We go into the Flyers Cup every year blind [against the Inter County League teams] and how we match up,” he said. I know they’ve talked about it for a couple years and the coaches were all on board. It’s something I think is long overdue.

“I think for both leagues, to get a chance to see teams from the other league and it breaks up the monotony of the season and it gives you a different look altogether. It’s really cool thing they’re doing.”

Montagna likes playing interleague games as a change of pace,

“We maybe go down to Ice Line and whoever we’re playing brings a lot of fans in for a regular-season game,” he said. “It’s a playoff atmosphere you don’t always get when we’re playing teams two or three times a year.”

Haverford High coach John Povey says the series will be a boost for the high-school version of the sport.

“It’s something we’ve been trying to do for some time now,” he said. We just think it’s great for high-school hockey. When you get teams from each league, you’re going to get good hockey games and all that does promote the league promote the sport.

“It’s something we’ve been trying to do for a while and being able to make it happen this year is really good and it’s good for high-school hockey.”

Povey is no stranger to interleague games.
“We’ve been doing preseason games with each other for the last 10-plus years,” he says. “This is just a little bit different because it’s going to have a lot more meaning to it.”

When Shaun McGinty was playing high-school hockey at Council Rock High in the mid-1990s under legendary coach Paul Gilligan the Indians competed regularly against teams from throughout the area, including Delaware and Chester Counties.

McGinty notes that Gilligan wanted his teams to face the strongest opposition available.

“His mindset was to compete with the best to be the best.” McGinty said. “He always pushed his program and us as players.”

As a head coach himself, McGinty has regularly sought out top-flight non-league opposition.

“I’ve done it here from the time I was here with [former coach Tom Coyne},” said, “and since Tom’s left I’ve kept it going with Haverford and Father Judge. I’ve played Ghost and La Salle and those teams are great.

We’ve played Haverford and we’ve played Conestoga. It’s good that the leagues are doing it again. It’s great for the kids and good for the coaches to see what others leagues have.”

McGinty notes that games like the one his team will play Friday night against Downingtown East are tutorials of sorts for younger players who aspire to compete at the school varsity level.

“We try to sell our middle school here,” he said. When we’re in playoffs, we try to get the middle school kids come out to see the big boys play and promote the idea that ‘This is where I’ve got to get too, this is where I have to work to to get to this level of play. You’re going to see some talent. It’s a great way to promote the game and I think it’s huge.”

Crossover Schedule

Friday 11-8 Strath Haven 3 Wissahickon 1 at Ice Works

Friday 11-8 Downingtown East 6 C.B. South 1 at Ice Line

Wednesday 11-13 Prnnridge 6 Boyertown 3 at Hatfield

Thursday 11-14 Marple-Newtown at Hatboro-Horsham 7:10 at Hatfield

Thursday 11-14 Conestoga at Neshaminy   7:20 at Grundy

Friday 11-15 North Penn at Downingtown West 7:50 at Ice Line

Friday 11-15 Pennsbury at Spring-Ford 7:15 at Oaks

Friday 11-15 Central Bucks East at Avon Grove 8:00 at Ice Line

Wednesday 11-20 Lower Merion at Souderton 7:20 at Hatfield

Thursday 11-21 Radnor at Plymouth Whitemarsh 7:10 at Hatfield

Thursday 11-21 Haverford at Council Rock South 7:20 at Grundy

Thursday 12-5   Abington at Harriton    8:00 at Skatium

C.B. South 5 Pennridge 4 OT

HATFIELD—For drama, this one was hard to top. J.D. Crouch scored on a shorthanded breakaway just before the overtime-ending buzzer to give Central Bucks South a stunning 5-4 win over Pennridge Thursday night in a SHSHL National Division meeting at Hatfield Ice Arena.

The Titans overcame a 3-0 second-period deficit to post their second consecutive win of the young season.  The Rams (1-1) saw a four-point effort from Shane Dachowski go unrewarded; the senior delivered three goals and an assist. And Pennridge goaltender Jacob Winton was credited with 57 saves in the losing effort.

Dachowski was at the forefront of the game’s penultimate sequence; he had a clear path to the net when he was taken down by the Titans’ Sean Cutter, who was called for tripping with 9.6 seconds remaining in the five-minute overtime. allowing the Rams to put an extra skater on the ice. Pennridge coach Jeff Montagna’s lobbying effort for a penalty shot was unsuccessful.

Crouch got control of the puck off the ensuing offensive right-circle faceoff and headed for the other end of the ice, hoping to win the race against time.

“It was kind of just a lucky bounce,” he said. “I chipped it of the wall and the [defensemen] stepped and gave me all the time. There was not much time on the clock so I just had to shoot it. I heard my teammates on the bench yelling to shoot it, so I just ripped it.”

After a scoreless first period, it was the Rams, who took command in the second frame with a goal from Shane Venner followed by a pair from Dachowski to build a three-goal advantage. But Dominic Gibson and Joey Slobodrian scored goals for the Titans 51 seconds apart to make it a one-goal game with 3:41 left in the period.

Dachowski and Slobodrian traded goals before the second period ended; Gibson tied the game with 6:19 left in regulation.

Pennridge started the overtime with a four-skaters-to-three advantage after the Titans’ Logan Hood was flagged for interference with 42 seconds left in regulation but the Rams couldn’t take advantage.

South coach Shaun McGinty celebrated his team’s comeback.

“That’s a never-give-up attitude,” said. “That’s a team effort. [62] shots to 36, obviously, we’re getting the shots and controlling that end of the game. But [Winton] is an unbelievable goaltender. They obviously have guys that are going to do damage when they have the puck.

“Dachowski is a phenomenal player and he’s just going to do what he does.”

Montagna credited his team for its effort, Winton in particular.

“Jacob was obviously unbelievable in net,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about our team tonight. They played a phenomenal game. I’m proud of them, I really am.

C.B. South 0 3 1 1—5

Pennridge 0 4 0 0—4

Second-period goals: Shane Venner (P) from Kaden Gunning, 2:00; Shane Dachowski (P) unassisted, 4:42; Dachowski (P) from James Rush, 11:02;  Dominic Gibson (CBS) from Jeff Kvecher and Sean Cutter, 12:28 (pp); Joey Slobodrian (CBS) from Cutter, 13:19; Dachowski (P) from Rush, 14:43; Slobodrian (CBS) from Logan Hood and Jake Stepp, 16:02

Third-period goal: Gibson (CBS) from Slobodrian, 10:41

Overtime goal: J.D. Crouch (CBS) unassisted, 0:00

Shots: C.B. South 62, Pennridge 36; Saves: Nate Neapolitan (CBS) 32, Jacob Winton (P) 57

SHSHL Preview 2024-25

The Suburban High School Hockey League has embarked on a new season. Here’s a look at how the 2025-25 campaign shapes up.

National Division

Central Bucks East

Coach: Jeff Mitchell (fifth season)

Last year: 12-7-2, 11-5-2 in the division; Flyers Cup invitee

Key players: Sr. Cole Breen (G); Sr. D.J. Brown (D); Sr. Charlie Keiser (D); Sr. Jaden Young (F); Sr. Gavin Widmer (F)

Outlook: The Patriots will rely on their experience on defense and in goal to show the way this season. Brown and Keiser are solid blueliners and Breen is a premier netminder.

Central Bucks South

Coach: Shaun McGinty (ninth season)

Last year: 15-8-1, 12-5-1 in divisional play: Flyers Cup invitee

Key players: Sr. Nate Napolitano (G); Sr. Jake Stepp (D); Sr. Sean Cutter (F); Sr. Jeff Kvecher

Outlook: No matter how the winds blow, the Titans always field an experienced lineup, one that features scoring balance. This year’s group is no exception. There is an established corps of veterans being counted on to show the way for their teammates.

Central Bucks West

Coach: Dave Baun (20th season)

Last year: 3-14-1, 3-14-1 in divisional play

Key players: So. Isaak Mays (G); Sr. Blake Hager (D); Sr. Zane Sanders (F); Sr. Jack Misoda (F); Sr. Anthony Dowd (F)

Outlook: The Bucks have one of the smallest rosters in the division, one that includes just 14 skaters and a goaltender.

But there are several experienced seniors on hand to provide leadership and Mays, despite the fact he’s just a sophomore, is a quality goaltender,

Council Rock North

Coach: Ryan Dorsey (second season)

Last year: 5-14, 4-14 in divisional play

Key players: Jr. Michael Jacoby (G); Jr. Danny Maglathlin (D); Sr. Jackson Accardi (F); So. Ivan Bondra (F); So. Sean Davies (F); So. Rory Davies (F)

Outlook: The Indians took some graduation hits in the offseason but some promising newcomers will strengthen the lineup.

“We graduated a lot of players and a lot of production last season,” Dorsey said. “We return a good amount of experience this season, and we’re welcoming in a small but very talented freshman class. “While we’re facing some unknowns, our group has really come together nicely in preseason.”

Council Rock South

Coach: Joe Houk (19th season)

Last year: 23-2, 17-1 in divisional play. Won National Division title; Class AA Flyers Cup finalist

Key players: Jr. Trey Prizzilo (G); Sr. Danny Fillipov (D); Sr. Peter Pereborow (D); So. Wes Mallon (D); Jake Mauer (F); Jake Weiner (F); Jeremy Rayher (F); Jackson Mosley (F); Jordan Sarne (F);

Outlook: The Golden Hawks come in to the season looking to claim their third consecutive divisional title; something that hasn’t been done at the Class AA level since 2018. The lineup is solid. Weiner is the division’s top returning scorer after recording 28 regular-season goals a season ago. Mauer and Mosley are being counted on for production as well. Fillipov and Peroborough are solid on the blue line and Prizzillo is experienced in goal.

Neshaminy

Coach: Bill Mooney (first season)

Last year: 1-14-3, 1-14-3 in divisional play

Key players: Sr. Colin Thurnau (G); Sr. Liam Mooney (D); Ryan DeMatteo (F); Jr. Angelo Veneziale (F); Fr. Nate Parker (F)

Outlook: Mooney takes over behind the bench for Bill Keyser. The ‘Skins are in something of a rebuild mode but there is experience on hand in the presence of Mooney on defense and DeMatteo up front.

North Penn

Coach: Kevin Vaitis (16th season)

Last year: 13-10, 11-7 in divisional play; Flyers Cup invitee

Key players: So. Aidan Quigley (G); Jr. James Boyle (D); Jr. Danny Cabrales (D); Jr. Chase Kelly Del-Ricci (D); Sr. Cole Pluck (F); So. Sam Norton (F); Jr. Nolan Shingle (F); So. Chris Silvotti (F);
Outlook: The Knights took some big steps forward last season and are looking to do the same this time around with a lineup that blends youth with 13 returnees.

“We have come into this season looking to build upon the success of last season and hopefully do even better,” Vaitis said. We have a lot of speed up front and our defense and goaltending is very solid.

“We feel we have some unfinished business. We are really excited to see how we can come together as a team and works towards our goals that we have laid out in front of us.”

Pennridge

Coach: Jeff Montagna (seventh season)

Last year: 22-2-2, 17-0-1 in divisional play; defending Class AA Flyers Cup and state champions

Key players: Sr. Jacob Winton (G); Sr. Nick Young (D); Sr. Jared Garber (D); Sr. Josh Kelly (D); Sr. Shane Dachowski (F); Jr. James Rush (F)

Outlook: After winning their second Class AA Flyers Cup title and second state championship in three years what do the Rams do for an encore? Nine skaters return from last season and Winton is a quality goaltender but there are some big holes to fill.

“We will have to play different than we have in the past,” Montagna said, “and need guys to step up in different roles than they are used to. Our success will depend on our defense and how fast they come around. We will be strong in net but need to find secondary scoring.” 

Pennsbury

Coach: Ryan Daley (eighth season)

Last year: 4-14-1, 4-13-1 in divisional play

Key players: Jr. Brendan Milliken (G). Sr. Chris Sarver (D), Sr. Kevin DeRosa (D), Jr. Shane Gleisner (F), Soph. Jake Sarver (F)

Outlook: The loss of seven seniors to graduation means the Falcons will have some young players filling key roles. Chris Sarver on the blue line will provide a veteran’s perspective.

“We’re excited about the new additions to the team this year,” Daley said. We look forward to building new chemistry and concepts this season.

“It’s been fun getting the new guys acclimated with our style of play. We are on the younger side this year, but we have a great new core of players that will learn a lot from the upperclassmen that have won in this league.”

Souderton

Coach: Scott Ryon (first season)

Last year: 7-11, 7-11 in divisional play

Key players: Sr. Connor Paulus (G); Sr. Nick Smith (D); Sr. Patrick Callahan (D); Jr. Max Ryon (F)

Outlook: Scott Ryon takes over behind the bench for Ryan Uchniat. Paulus returns in goal and Max Ryon figures to be one of the area’s top point producers. The key to this year’s success hinges on the evolution of the younger players on the roster.

We are looking forward to building off of last year’s progress,” Scott Ryon said. “We expect some of our younger players to take a big step forward this year.”

American Division

Abington

Head Coach: Ken Brzozowski (eighth season)

Last year: 5-10-1, 5-7 in division

Key players: So. Matt Evangelist (G); So. Ben Biko (D); Jr. Moses Garcia (D); So. Mason Murdoch (D); Jr. Jamison Donofry (F); Jr. Hezikiah Brown (F)

Outlook: The Galloping Ghosts will field one of the youngest lineups in the SHSHL. The roster features 13 underclassmen and no seniors. But there is experience in spots, notably with Donofry up front and Garcia and Biko on the blue line.

Brzozowski is looking for youthful exuberance and a strong work ethic to be a formula for success.

Hatboro-Horsham

Head Coach Shane Smith (fourth season)

Last year: Formed a co-op team with Upper Dublin

Key players: Sr. Connor Smith (D); Sr. Brady Gurt (D); Sr. Victor Wilkins (F); Sr. Darius Graziani (F); Jr. Frank Stanchek (F); Jr Nate Nemchinov (F)

Outlook: After being on the outside looking in, the Hatters, whose hickey tradition dates back more than half a century, are once again full-fledged members of the SHSHL. Experience comes in the form of Smith and Gurt on defense and Wilkins, Graziani, and Nemchinov up front.

Plymouth Whitemarsh

Head Coach: Vince Forti (first season)

Last year: 13-5, 11-1 in divisional play, Flyers Cup invitee

Key players: Sr. Julian Lucks (G); Sr. Charlie Spause (D); Sr. Daniel Guller (D); Jr. Ryan Jagher (D); Sr. Ryan Campell (F)

Outlook: The Colonials come into the season off winning the regular-season championship a year ago and reaching the Flyers Cup tournament. They’re particularly strong on the blue line; Guller scored 19 regular-season goals last year, and Lucks is the most experienced goaltender in the division.

“The players are working extremely hard in practice,” Forti said. “We will continue to work hard and plan to be extremely competitive.”

Springfield

Head Coach: Don Quinn (second season)

Last year: 3-12, 3-9 in the division

Key players: Sr. Liam Baskin (G); Sr. Jack Sarsfield (G); Sr. Owen Quinn (D); Sr. Felix Boccella (D); Sr. Chris Cahill (F); Sr. Gabriel Wells (F); Sr. Thomas Manchester (F); Sr. Ronan Klein (F)

Outlook: The Spartans took some big strides last year in their second SHSHL season and Quinn expects that trend to continue. “We won a few games late in the year last season,” he said. “The team is ready to work hard and compete one shift at a time all season.”

Wissahickon

Head Coach: James Rumsey (second season)

Last year: 2-13, 2-10 in the division

Key players: Jr. Fletcher Lynch (G); Sr. Alex Winkowski (D); Sr. Aiden Brooks (D); Jr. Logan Dicus (D); Sr. Jack Raebiger (F); Sr. Sabrina Honeycutt (F); Sr. John Kuffner (F); So. Ben Raebiger (F); So. Joey Gambino (F)

Outlook: The Trojans offer an abundance of experience, including six seniors, which gives Rumsey reason for optimism.

“The boys and girls have looked great in practice,” he said. “We have a core group of men and women that have been personified everything our club stands for and we look forward to seeing what they will bring to their last season.”

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